UPDATE: The MTA has confirmed that the Bronx will not benefit from its ambitious $10.8 billion plan to upgrade subway signals, a decision that has sparked outrage among local commuters. Transit officials announced that while they aim to enhance service across 162 miles of subway tracks in other boroughs, the Bronx will receive no funding for crucial signal upgrades.
This development is alarming for the 1.4 million Bronx residents who heavily rely on public transportation. The MTA’s signal system, much of which operates on outdated 1930s technology, has been a source of frequent breakdowns and delays. As officials prepare to begin upgrades in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens over the next five years, Bronx commuters feel increasingly neglected.
Local voices are amplifying their frustrations. “I think the Bronx is forgotten about,” said commuter Randy Batista. Fellow Bronxite Adinah Benzion echoed this sentiment, stating, “What I’ve noticed is in Manhattan, the service has gotten much better, which is not what’s happening in the Bronx.”
Despite the MTA’s reassurances of other investments in the Bronx, such as upcoming changes to 19 stations to make them ADA accessible, the lack of subway signal upgrades is a major concern. MTA construction chief Jamie Torres-Springer acknowledged these frustrations but defended the agency’s priorities, stating that the most urgent needs lie with the oldest signal systems currently in use, particularly in other parts of the city.
The MTA’s plans have already faced challenges, with all signal upgrade projects falling behind schedule. Many Bronx residents suffer from high asthma rates, partly due to pollution from expressways, making reliable mass transit even more critical. Notably, the Bronx has the second-lowest rate of car ownership among New Yorkers, further emphasizing the community’s dependence on public transportation.
Torres-Springer stated that the MTA cannot implement signal upgrades in the Bronx until new train cars capable of supporting modern control technology are ordered and designed. Meanwhile, the agency maintains that it has made incremental improvements to the Bronx’s signal systems in recent years, though these changes have not alleviated local concerns.
The MTA is also pursuing the $3.1 billion Penn Access project, which aims to connect the Bronx to Penn Station with four new Metro-North stops. However, many residents are skeptical about the effectiveness of these investments compared to the pressing need for reliable subway service.
“This is not a surprise,” said local history expert Ed Garcia Conde. “Whether it’s transportation equity or anything related to the Bronx, we’re always considered the last.”
As the MTA moves forward with its plans, the Bronx community is left watching and waiting, hoping for a future where their transit needs are prioritized. The urgency of the situation has never been clearer, and the call for equitable investment in all boroughs rings louder than ever.
Residents and advocates are calling on the MTA to reconsider its priorities and ensure that the Bronx is not left behind in the subway signal upgrade efforts. As these developments unfold, all eyes are on the agency to see if future plans will indeed include the Bronx.
